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Modelling the aerodynamics of vertical-axis wind turbines in unsteady wind conditions

Scheurich, Frank and Brown, Richard (2013) Modelling the aerodynamics of vertical-axis wind turbines in unsteady wind conditions. Wind Energy, 16 (2). pp. 91-107. ISSN 1095-4244

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Abstract

Most numerical and experimental studies of the performance of vertical-axis wind turbines have been conducted with the rotors in steady, and thus somewhat artificial, wind conditions - with the result that turbine aerodynamics, under varying wind conditions, are still poorly understood. The Vorticity Transport Model has been used to investigate the aerodynamic performance and wake dynamics, both in steady and unsteady wind conditions, of three different vertical-axis wind turbines: one with a straight-bladed configuration, another with a curved-bladed configuration and another with a helically twisted configuration. The turbines with non-twisted blades are shown to be somewhat less efficient than the turbine with helically twisted blades when the rotors are operated at constant rotational speed in unsteady wind conditions. In steady wind conditions, the power coefficients that are produced by both the straight- and the curved-bladed turbines vary considerably within one rotor revolution because of the continuously varying angle of attack on the blades and, thus, the inherent unsteadiness in the blade aerodynamic loading. These variations are much larger, and thus far more significant, than those that are induced by the unsteadiness in the wind conditions.

Item type: Article
ID code: 42816
Keywords: vertical axis wind turbine, unsteady wind conditions, numerical simulation, vorticity transport model, Mechanical engineering and machinery, Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Energy Engineering and Power Technology, Computational Mechanics
Subjects: Technology > Mechanical engineering and machinery
Technology > Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
Department: Faculty of Engineering > Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Depositing user: Pure Administrator
Date deposited: 12 Feb 2013 09:12
Last modified: 22 Jul 2018 05:15
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URI: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/42816
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